The Smothers Brothers I Talk To The Trees / Dance, Boatman, Dance - The Judy Garland Show

Show #9 of the smothers brothers comedy tour.

[@loge10]

Very sad to hear of Tommy's passing. I'm 69 and literally grew up with the Smothers Brothers. Thank you, Tommy - you brought a lot of laughter during very turbulent times...

[@cgtprospectingadventures922]

Just before he passed he sold their family cabins here in Northern California to a woman that turned it into a 5 star Airbnb. I am truly blessed to be the caretaker of this magnificent property. Tom helped his grandfather build both cabins that still stand to this day. I am blessed to live in their first cabin built by Tom and his grandfather.

[@Albe3331]

I am 71. As a young child I remember my entire family glued to the black and white tv watching and laughing to the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. So glad to have stumbled on to this.

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

i remember watching their show in color. whatever happened to comedy teams? for decades you had laurel and hardy. the marx bros, the three stooges, the ritz bros, burns and allen, amos and andy, abbot and costello, lewis and martin, the smothers bros, rowan and martin, monty python and cheech and chong. (who did i miss?) nowadays all you got is schlock, shock, gross-out stand-up. since 1980 the world has truly gone to the crapper.

[@garysandiego]

@@cjmacq-vg8um Let’s not forget Stiller and Meara, Bob and Ray, Mike Nichols and Elaine May, Allen & Rossi, Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner.

[@redvoter3076]

Just listen to it Thanksgiving weekend 2022 brought tears to my eyes laughing it felt pretty good

[@johnnyfreedom3437]

I spotted this and I had to stop what I was doing and take 10 minutes out for the Memories.

[@gracedavid4235]

Albe- I'm 75, and also remember watching the Smothers Brothers show on TV. Such talent, and I can still laugh today.

[@rdowning60]

With all there antics during the songs you forget how good they harmonized together..their comedic timing was spot on. They were a one of a kind act....we sure could use some funny clean entertainment back today on TV today..

[@denicegirardeau7110]

and they were excellent musicians

[@donnavargas1797]

Yes!

[@voiceguy3635]

ANY entertainment would be fine.

[@MaryHemmings]

Canadian. I suspect these guys are Canadian.

[@markkennedy4854]

OMG, Tommy Smothers was one of the funniest men to ever live. Just his facial expressions could crack you up.

[@iaov]

And a damn good guitar player as well!!

[@RossM3838]

Tommy smothers is very much alive at 86.

[@BenInSeattle]

@@RossM3838 If he was alive now he'd make a very funny joke about you saying that right before he died.

[@robertkelley1837]

Absolutely impeccable timing, you won't see anything like the Smothers Brothers ever again.

[@JosephKulik2016]

"Timing" is what REAL Comedy is all about. However, in the decades since the Smothers Brothers, timing has become replaced by silliness IMO. ... [e-mail]0m

[@sumerbc7409]

The Blues Brothers.....

[@robertchesnosky3508]

YOU NAILED IT !!!

[@grandpahonestyguy8978]

Well said.. LIMELITERS too.. !

[@johnnyfreedom3437]

And to think the FBI had an entire file on them because they protested the Vietnam War

[@paulplack490]

Live comedy really turned a corner with these guys. It was rare on TV to see pauses to let the material "breathe," and these guys were unafraid to pause, to let something funny simmer for a moment. Great stuff, and really funny innuendo between the lines!

[@steves9028]

I’ve always said it is a very special talent to play the “dumb” comic, which Tom was a genius at. I’d say he’s in the same league as Stan Laurel. Seeing this reminded me how much I miss them!

[@elisabethvalade9866]

BETTER!!!

[@richarddebacher7227]

RIP, Tommy Smothers. I saw them at Mr. Kellys in 1963, the gig at which their album "Hold your tongue, Knave" was recorded. Their act then was more silly than sharply satirical, but at a time when folk music was deadly serious and humorless, their silliness worked for me. And the timing of their exchanges is brilliant.

[@alanhill5756]

"It's hard playing on a rudder". I nearly died laughing, I love these guys😊

[@jsmcguireIII]

CBS cancelled their show for their anti-war music and jokes. They were right CBS was wrong.

[@marycox2522]

I remember it well. They had Pete Seger on the show and he added a verse to an existing folk song, faulting LBJ for getting us stuck in the Vietnamese war. The line was “we’re waist deep in the Big Muddy and the big fool said to push on.” CBS canned them for calling the president a big fool and for protesting the war!

[@lisa-el3db]

Tommy is so relatable to all of us who had siblings like Dick. Dick was great as sibling who tries to lovingly scold and correct his brother, but always came off as bossy. They worked this act so realistically. The beauty was that you didn't feel it was an act, until at the very end, then relieved it was just an act.

[@Nancy-yf6mw]

And Dick was 2 years YOUNGER than Tommy 😂

[@MelissaThompson432]

I've always thought Tom was ADHD. He's dyslexic, capable of hyperfocusing, and he's a self-described workaholic. It takes a lot of concentration to look that clueless. 😏🙂

[@chestermarcol3831]

RIP Tommy. You and your brother introduced me to comedy at a young age, through listening to your albums on my Dad's Hi-Fi/stereo. You were true legend.

[@cgtprospectingadventures922]

I had a few of their albums that my parents passed on to me as a kid. Growing up and watching the end of the 60's turn to the 70's, out of the three TV stations we always watched The Smothers Brothers comedy hour.

[@cgtprospectingadventures922]

I now live on their old family property as a caretaker. Truly blessed

[@ejoseph2881]

Gosh. RIP Tommy. You meant a lot to many of us. Also, your mom loved you both equally.

[@spaomalley]

not true!

[@ssolomon769]

Mom loved you more than

[@debrasorrells6288]

Lol, one of my fave lines “Oh yeah? Mom always liked you best!”

[@jamesellsworth9673]

The Smothers Brothers have so much talent! AHHH...memories of my YOUTH!

[@davidhull1481]

Ah for the love of Pete. How is it that they still crack me up 60 years later? And Dick can barely hold his laughing in.

[@curtgilbert285]

Tommy is a phenomenal guitarist.

[@5ivestring]

I was thinking the same thing. He must have had some fantastic teachers because you don't just play like that without.

[@drothberg3]

Agreed. It’s easy to miss that because he was so damned funny,

[@charliebrown7940]

Imagine one act getting this much prime time air for just one bit. Two of a kind we’ll never see again. Love you Tommy. You, too, Dickie.

[@vaan1520]

Just found these guys through the wonder of KZbin. Binge watching them now during national lockdown (UK). Hilarious. stay safe everyone xxx

[@ceejay1794]

Vaan they were a national treasure, enjoy the jocularity of Tom and Dickie😂

[@bishlap]

makes sense, The Brothers had that "British" humor, at least from what I could tell from watching Brit TV ON PBS.

[@patakel]

We would just wait for their show every Sat. Night for lots of laughs.

[@laurabeane8862]

Old Simple Tom🤪 "Hey, mom, here come those Rugged Boatmen with their essential goods..."

[@graceamerican3558]

I just looked Tom lives in NYC and Dicky lives in Sarasota FL.

[@lobstermania4025]

so happy to find these old tv appearances.. these guys were the best. Rest in peace Tommy.

[@oldhendy785]

I watched these guys as often as I could in the sixties on my black and white TV. We could use more of the Smothers Brothers today.

[@daviddubois4663]

I had all their albums. And I saw them live at Tarrant county convention center back in the '90s . Amazingly talented brothers. They are timeless.

[@judymcvey9005]

Tommy Smothers ...the most incredible faces he makes are the funniest anyone comedian anyone has ever made!

[@alanberent4428]

I have to wonder how they came up with this shtick. "Hey, Dick! We've been playing and singing together since we were kids. How do we get noticed? Well Tom, we need a gimmick. What if one of us pretends he's smart, and the other dumb? Sounds good, Dick. But who gets to play the smart one? I dunno, Tom. Lets ask Mom."😂

[@emilyrosine7801]

Mom always liked you best!!!!

[@alanberent4428]

@@emilyrosine7801 🤣

[@felixmadison5736]

I've been watching the Smothers Brothers since the early 1960s and Tommy was always so funny. Dick was the perfect straight man to his older brother. RIP Tommy. God bless you Dick, and so sorry to hear about Tommy's passing.

[@bossfan49]

One of their last appearances on the Tonight Show with Carson, they sort of flipped roles and Dick was the one getting the laughs. It was really great to see that. I bet they enjoyed it. The bit was Tommy trying to tell a joke about his dog having puppies...and Dick kept inadvertently screwing up the setup.

[@felixmadison5736]

@@bossfan49 I saw that episode. I can never remember a time when the Smothers Brothers didn't make me laugh.

[@captainunderpants200]

These guys bring me to tears every time. So timeless.

[@elisabethvalade9866]

Am STILL LAUGHING, and it's 5:47am. 😄

[@acousticarchivefortwayne930]

Essential goods: spoons, chicken wire, and buttons! I'm laughing so hard I'm crying! You guys are the best. Thanks.

[@LeftCoastStephen]

Thanks for all the laughter Tommy! This is one of my favorite skits you did. my condolences to you Tommy and your families

[@jenjones3035]

They were wonderfully entertaining. Funny and actually, good musicians too. We had several of their albums back in the 60’s.

[@MelissaThompson432]

I loved their comedy, but I also loved their music. On their records, they had both comedy songs and straight folk songs. I could listen to them on repeat for hours.

[@vampy8334]

Literally a genius comedic duo. Will never see anyone like them ever again!

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

whatever happened to comedy teams? for decades you had laurel and hardy, the marx bros, the three stooges, the ritz bros, burns and allen, amos and andy, abbot and costello, lewis and martin, the smothers bros, rowan and martin, monty python and cheech and chong. (who did i miss?) nowadays all you got is schlock, shock, gross-out stand-up. since 1980 the world has truly gone to the crapper.

[@DemonicSoulxD]

Man back in 2010 I helped my stepdad roommate in LA move the SsBs films/files to some nice house and I didn’t care to look them up til now lmao they’re fucking hilarious and amazing musicians! Love this so much ❤

[@vicoilsteems9764]

No more middle class no more honest original talent

[@5ivestring]

@@cjmacq-vg8um The studios learned how do do with less talent by learning how to blow up cars and stuff. Sad. I guess cars didn't cost much but good talent did.

[@5ivestring]

@@vicoilsteems9764 That sounds like a Tommy Smothers song.

[@lorettascott3353]

We always watched the Smothers Brothers every week, just loved them! 😅

[@thesilversurfer7136]

Love the Smother Brothers. Such great musical training and precision is evident. Their comedic abilities were stellar.

[@IndigenousUndergroundPrimate]

How could they still be so funny even today? And so damn relevant.

[@marketads1]

I saw a commenter saying this performance on the Judy Garland show was their favorite sketch. I’ve been gobbling up as many Smothers Bros videos as I can find since Tommy’s death and I’m still hungry for more. I couldn’t tell you which was my favorite. I watched them on TV when they were first on and felt such connection as my family and I marched against the war. We knew what was wrong with the government and my parents, being Greenwich Village folkies, had introduced us to all these folk songs through Pete Seeger and others. I would never pick a favorite. It’s their intent in introducing the American public to the songs of the folk through comedy and then adding in another world view at the same time makes them all my favorites. Such special people.

[@scooter5940]

Absolutely timeless humor. Some innuendo but no profanity. Just so damn funny even 60 years later. Tommy kills me. I was not old enough to remember them when they had their show in the late ‘60’s, but have fond memories of watching them in various specials and as guests on variety shows as a boy in the 70’s.

[@ronrice2249]

I loved watching the Smothers Brothers on tv. They were fun and family oriented.

[@charleslord2433]

They really perfected this routine on their own TV show. Still remember the entire routine ❤

[@superorangeish]

We loved these guys and their show. We were so sad when they were taken off the air

[@mikemarthaller8789]

As a young man i laughed and enjoyed Today I'm in awe of the depth ot the performances the complex skills. The Understanding of humanity combined with singing talent and acting skills. Their courage to buck a system ended our ability to receive the gifts.

[@robertsenseman4339]

Clean comedy at its finest

[@OldDood]

I believe this is 1963 on the Judy Garland show. This was when the smothers brothers were taking off and becoming very popular. We used to listen to their albums for hours.

[@bbbanks6912]

Bloody hilarious! They lived 2 doors down from us when we lived in Salinas, CA from 1959-64. They were commuting to SF for their gigs and were at the Salinas house only very occasionally. They gave my sister and I a kite - we made a tent out of it. Thanks Tommy and Dick!

[@joshuacross4027]

This whole act is the best! One of my personal favorites!!!

[@rhonda7070]

Looking up all these I can find--need happy vids, need to laugh.

[@captainmol0]

My dad LOVED the Smothers Brothers! He’d be chuckling the whole show. 😅

[@Lolly1122dooda]

When I was in high school chorus class, one of the students brought a Smothers Brothers album to class. We spent the whole hour listening to that instead of singing. The teacher loved it so much, too, and couldn't turn it off.

[@davesky538]

The Smothers Brothers was the reason me parents gave for not allowing TV into the house. They were sinners. TV was sin. Laughter was sin. Only prayer was allowed. But next door their kids had access to TV and I watched with glee!

[@MrNeatoMiniStock13]

R.I.P. Tommy! Thank you for all the laughs and smiles you brought us.

[@pidginprepper8087]

I enjoyed the Smothers Brothers Show😂❤

[@alicemcknight6335]

I love the subtle way the brothers ended back beside each other after Dick backed up when said he wasn't going to sing anymore. These two were the absolute greatest

[@morpher44]

these guys are really talented. someone should have given them a TV show where they could be controversial.

[@judymcvey9005]

Tommy Smothers ...one of the funniest men EVER!

[@stebstebanesier6205]

I still have the album "Curb Your Tongue Knave", comedy genus from start to finish. The Ballad of Big Ben Covington, "He had hands the size of basketballs...no fingers, just great big hands", but I must say, my favorite thing from the album is when Tommy says"mom and dad catch um and give um a lickn'". When I was a kid I would spend hours upon hours listening to these guys, Bill Cosby, Ray Stevens, Spike Jones and Stan Freberg.

[@CHDean]

Mr. Smothers, thank you so much for so many laughs with your iconic sincerity.

[@rogerfreed1493]

I never realized just how funny these guys were.

[@ravencrys4me]

I Will always Love you Guy's 💋💋❤️❤️❤️🙃

[@paulcooper8818]

Always a treat when the Smothers Brothers appeared on a variety show. It was even better when they had their own show. Despite the turmoil in that time, I was more optimistic then than now.

[@zingbing01]

AMAZING comedic timing. Perfect.

[@ShiftingDrifter]

Here come the boatmen with their "essential goods." lol...

[@rgjerde53]

They were so funny -- yet so good as singers and musicians. Can't think of anyone else who was like that.

[@yintx]

Love them, loved their show.

[@SpeegBJ]

When I approached them in their limo, they opened the door and signed my program, two of the nicest I've ever met.

[@vickisumrall1540]

Am 66...and am SO HAPPY to see this on KZbin!

[@chrisweidner4768]

Brilliant. Laugh out loud. Thank you for this trip down memory lane. Have fun. Be free.

[@johnnyfreedom3437]

I'm 67 and remember the old black and white Smothers Brothers hour, they were fond memories. Mark these two up right alongside Abbott and costello, who's on first!

[@ernestbennett8096]

Really great musical talent combined with comedic talent and timing.

[@turtle6860]

This makes me laugh every time 😂

[@fullthrottlejeffry]

So funny brings back memories of my dad watching their show

[@jamesscanlan6240]

Excellent musicians; almost overlooked because of their great comedic timing

[@stranraerwal]

Tommy's face is a study by itself. Their timing is impeccable...and their simple and often silly arguments become all of a sudden a philosophical discourse between Sokrates and Plato.

[@RayKlassen]

Wow... I never realised how much the brothers looked so much alike!

[@hankgillette]

That was before Dick got more hair.

[@davidlong1786]

They did this song on the Live at the Purple Onion album. Was more risque than what they could sing on TV. In essence, Tommy said the boatmen would go into town to pick up their "oars". Then he put in this line when it was his turn to sing, "I'm a boatman, gee I'm sore, I came home without an oar". 😅

[@markmandel6738]

Oy, yuck, whoopee!

[@peterhunt4846]

I guess he had to "paddle" his own boat then.

[@GeorgeStar]

Deepest condolences on the passing of Tommy. So sad. I looked forward to your show every week. You were pioneers fighting the unwoke cancel culture fascists over 50 years ago.

[@christinerobinson9372]

One of the very best shows ever. I'm glad I got to see it when I was young.

[@3dcpsolutions381]

Still fantastic to watch. Great duo. Funny and talented. Love them.

[@danarzechula3769]

Forgot how great the singing was

[@tedfurlo2268]

Talent that was so reliable that it was OK to take it for granted. I grew up in an era with brilliant entertainment like this. Thoughtful, Thought through, Honest, Authentic. God bless the Smothers Brothers!

[@pacz8114]

This is not show #9 of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour; rather this was show #9 of the Judy Garland Show, taped 04OCT1963 and aired 06OC1963. Ethyl Merman and Babs Streisand were also on this broadcast.

[@gffpau]

great clip / love i talk to the trees routine / too bad they dont do the whole routine

[@kriswright1022]

Clint did it in the movie, probably the only singing he ever did in a movie. Same for Lee Marvin.

[@user-nq9gz4xf7f]

They were so great. i remember them just so hot and daring and groundbreaking in the 1960s. What a great routine!

[@sebastiendeschamps3135]

I am the only 13 year old watching this in 2020

[@literati2015]

I just love them. Dick was the absolute perfect straight man to Tom. I loved their singing and playing. Love you Dick. Rest in peace Tom

[@lionessatthegate]

Best two-part harmony ever.

[@ronwells5624]

Rest in Peace Thomas Bolyn Smothers III (February 2, 1937 - December 26, 2023)

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

whatever happened to comedy teams? for decades you had laurel and hardy. the marx bros, the three stooges, the ritz bros, burns and allen, amos and andy, abbot and costello, lewis and martin, the smothers bros, rowan and martin, monty python and cheech and chong. (who did i miss?) nowadays all you got is schlock, shock, gross-out stand-up. since 1980 the world has truly gone to the crapper.

[@willienobody4156]

🖤🖤 essential goods

[@tim2015]

I am just discovering the Smothers Brothers. All you who say we don't hear music or entertainment like this now... post the KZbin links to this clip, and their song 'Mariah', and other such musicians, on your Facebook and other social media pages. Email them to friends or family who have not heard of them... give people the opportunity to hear them and perhaps think "Maybe I could do something."

[@realthursty4953]

I grew up listening to their albums and watching their TV show. They were so good at music but they never managed to get through a song. Part of the reason Tommy is so funny is how fast he can go from happy to angry to any other emotion. That used to be a staple of comics but you don't see it much these days. That and confusion. Tommy seemed to be in a perpetual state of confusion.

[@evelynb.2434]

Girl this every middle school kid doing a partner presentation on a topic they studied only the night before for.

[@BLFulle]

Rest In Peace Tommy. Your mom my have liked Dickie best but you were always my favorite. I love you.

[@pfridell8424]

I always liked the Smothers Brothers; they were so funny!

[@mattanderson6336]

In the movie Paint Your Wagon this song was sung by Clint Eastwood. I think it was his only musical episode.

[@bjmckinneyjr8199]

I just saw them for the first time the other night on a old jack Benny show and they cracked me up

[@laurabeane8862]

For some reason they are trying to revive the "Lucky Strike" brand for cigarettes. Damn right I'll smoke them if Jack Benny sponsors them😝

[@thack57]

Has you ever seen a performer(s) who were so CLEAN LOOKING? They used to absolutely radiate on stage.

[@derekdodson5623]

Love it! I remember them when I was a kid.

[@Stan7670]

They're as good today as they were over 50 years ago.

[@IMeMineWho]

Dickie: I am related to a friend and colleague of you and your brother. I am so sorry about your brother but he has a friend up there.

[@louleo]

so great! thanks for posting!

[@HardToBeSomeone]

Makes me wonder if Judy Garland was really angered by Tom’s old lady comment -

[@elisabethvalade9866]

Nah!